The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-02-12
A BROKEN RAIL.
Part Of a Train PIunges Down a
Vermont Gorge to Froz-
en- River.
Nearly Fifty People Meet Frightful
Death In Its Most Agonix-
ing Shape.
white River Junction Cvtl special

white River Junction ytl Special
An express train. bound from Boston for
Montreal. met with terrible accident near
Woodstock, on the Central Vermont
Railroad. early Saturday morning. The
train started from this city on time, but was
detained nj White River junction, so II was
abont an hour and a half late when II left
there. II consisted of locomotive, bag
gace-c car, postal car, two passenger coaches
and two sleeping cars, and was running nj
the usual rate of speed. When about TWO
hundred yards south OF the end OF the Deck
bridge, near the old Windsor Station,
broken rail was struck. The locomotive,
baggage ear and postal car broke away from
the rest OF the train, passing over the
bridge in safety. The rest OF the tiain was
thrown from the rails and continued on the
road-bed until it came near the end OF The
bridge, but there II ran over the aonunen',
and all OF the ears fell into the White
River. some fifty feet below. The gorge
al this point Is frightful, and when the
cars went down there was terrible crash.
AS soon as possible the detached part OF
the train was stopped and ran back 10 the
scene Of the disaster. The screams OF the
injured were heartrending. Assistance also
came from people living IN the vicinity,
and everything was done 10 rescue and re-
lieve the injured. Soon after help arrived
il was discovered that fire had started in
the first passenger coach, and soon The
entire train wns ablaze. thus adding new
horror to the already frightful catastrophe.
Those present were powerless TO stop the
fire. and devoted themselves entirely TO
attempting TO rescue those imprisoned IN
the wreck.
The rescuers met another and an unex-
pected obstacle in the heat, which had be-
come SO intense that they were Obliged TO
relinauish their efforts to save the sufferers,
| and were compelled 10 retreat to place OF
safety for themselves. and 10 become un-
willing and horror stricken Witnesses of
| tho awful holocaust. In addition 10 this,
and 10 add TO the terrors and sniferings OF
/ the passengers, the weather was intensely
cold and the reScuers We're hindered thereby
in their work. No water could be obtained
with which 10 check or TO cxtinguish The
flames.
There were between eighty and ninety
! persons on the train OF these thirty five
are accounted for MS among the wounded,
thirty three are dead, four are uninlured,
leaving only four unaccounted for. IL Is
utterly impossible TO identify more thnn ten
! or twelve of those recovered, the clothing
being entirely gone and the bodies burned
To- crisp. Every article of clothing, scrap
OF paper or other thing found IL being
carefully saved for the purpose OF idenltt-
cation, and parties having friends unac-
counted for will lie afforded every means
or clew To the identification of lost or un-
known.
STORY or A SURVIVOR.
Mr.. Henry w. Tewksbury of West Ran
dolph. VT, the lecturer, states that he was
in the first day coach. He was doing at
the time OF the accident, but was aroused
by feeling the car jumping up on the rail-
road ties. He had leen IN two railroad ac-
cidents before this and he knew what the
sensation portehded. Realizing that an
accident was about to occur he jumped
from his seat, with the intention OF making
his escape. The train seemed to- come to
a standstill or 90 very slowly. He thought
il was all right, and SO sat down
again. Then, without q moments warning
that ANYTHING further was TO occur,
the car seemed TO leap into space and then
came n terrible crash. For n moment he
was stunned and scarcely knew whether he
was dead or alive. He tried to move, bui
found he could not bulge an inch. He
otieed with great alarm that fire hac
roken out at the further end of the coach
IIo struggled With all his strength TO free
himself and screamed for help. but Their,
was no one at hand TO help him. IL was
time of mental torture, but still he coulc
not help noticing an old couple who were
few seats above him. They sough
10 get ont, but they were hope
lessly tied down by heavy seats
The flames approached the coupl'
with frightfuf rapidity, and the aged pal
seemed to feel that there was no hope 70
them. The last he saw of them they wer
locked IN each others arms and in the &c
OF kissing. The smoke and flames nov
enveloped them, hiding them from view
Mr.. Tewksbury then gave himself up 70
lost. He seized his fur cap and wound
around his face SO rs TO cover the eye
and hide the dreadful view Of approach
ing death. AZ this time the railroad bridg
above him was one mass of fire. and henv
burning timbers we're falling all abou
him. Having leaned back rcsigncdiy {
meet what seemed 10 be his fear u fate, hi
hopes Of life were renewed by hearin
voices. He unwound his fur cap and sa'
IL the engineer and fireman close at hand
I. lie called 10 them frantically for assistanc
n which they preferred ut once. Sezin
hold of him his reseuers sought 10 pm
him out, but failed. Thinking that his wa
hopeless case they were about to leay
y him To help others, but he begged them I
u try again and to break his leg If necessar,
= They did so and managed TO get him on
breaking the leg and an arm In the effoE
- The flames were SO close upon Mr.. Tewkl
: bury that his clothing was burned from hi
- body.